Mixing and screening device for fertilizers and the like



'A. M. MARSHALL.

MIXING AND SCREENING DEVICE FOR'FERTILIZERS AND THE LIKE. APP LlCATION FILED JAN. 25, 192i.

Patented 00. 4, .1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I dZfredMfl/arslzal Mbtozmg A. M. MARSHALL. MIXINGTQND SCREENING DEVICE FOR FERTILIZERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MN. 25, I921- Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

2 SHEEIS-SHLE| 2 on- 0000000000000 o o MAJ/ ' UNITED STATES,

' I ALFRED M. MARSHALL, OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

MIXING AND SCREENING DEVIGE FOR FEBTILIZERS AND' THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

Application filed January 25,1921. Serial No. 439,769.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED M. MARSHALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Savannah, in the county of Chatham and Stateof Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mixing and Screening Devices for Fertilizers and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mixing and screening devices for fertilizers and the like and it comprises a receptacle having a shaft with a plurality of stirrers or paddles therein, advantageously arranged to mix con-v tained material and tend to throw it toward the center and bottom of the receptacle, in

combination with a sub-receptacle in proximity to the first receptacle such sub-receptacle arranged to receive. mixed material from the main receptacle andhaving means for screening said mixed material; 'all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed; f

One object of the present invention is the provision of a simple and relativelyfinexpensive mixing 'and'screening means which can be used by a farmer for the purpose of mixing fertilizers and the like. It frequently happens thatthe farmer does not desire to use mixed fertilizers of the character manufactured, but. on the other hand, desires to mix his own fertilizers at the farm, and to use more or less of a certain ingredient as the character of his particular soil may require. Frequently a farmer desires to mix the fertilizer with a proportion of earth before spreadingit on his soil. For these and other reasons a simple and economical form of fertilizer mixing [and screening apparatus is desideratum on the farm.

In the present invention I have devised a relatively inexpensive and simple mixing and screening apparatus, of which the following is a detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing. I

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sec-' tion through the machine, certain parts be ing shown in elevation; and

Fig. 2 is an end elevation;

Fig. 3 is avertical sectionalong line 33 ofFigland I Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the screen.

Fig.5 isa detail of; the screentapping means. 7

Referring to the drawings: in which the same references designate corresponding parts in the several views, 1 indicates a receptacle such as a barrel or the like provided with a feeding hopper 2 placed over the opening 3. The feeding hopper is provided with a stationary screen 4 and a slidable screeen 5. By this arrangement the openings of'the screen 1 may be diminished in size by'the use of the screen 5 and the feeding of large pieces of foreign matter into the receptacle 1 may be prevented. The barrel or receptacle 1 is supported on standards 6 each of which is provided with a bearing 7 for reception of the shaft 8. The shaft is provided at one end with a driven sprocket 9 operated by means of chain 10 driven from the sprocket gear 11 which is keyed to a'shaft 12 carrying the pulley 13 operated by a belt 14 from a source of power not shown. The shaft 8 is provided with a plurality of slotted plates 15 preferably bolted to'the shaftand carrying peculiarly shaped paddles, stirrers or propeller-blades 16 secured to the plates in any desired manner. I usually provide 6 to 8 of these propeller blades but a greater or less number may be used as the exigencies of any particular case demand. These propeller blades are preferably curved in the direction of rotation of the shaft and are twisted toward the center of the machine in order that. they may tend, while stirring and mixing the con tents of the barrel, to throw it toward the center and the bottom. The shaft'is also advantageously provided with a centrally locatedstirring arm 17 which may be secured to the shaft in a'hole therein and locked in position by lock nuts 18. This stirring arm is primarily for the purpose of preventing accumulations and piling up of material over the bottom opening of the barrel.

The material mixed in the barrel or receptacle 1 is discharged through opening 19 into the screening receptacle to be described. This opening 19 is provided with a removable cover 20 which may slide longitudinally of the barrel.

In the opening at the bottom of the barrel is a small plate 21 held in place by the spider arms 22, this plate serving to prevent dumping or falling of the material directly upon the gears and gear casing to be described.

The screen basket 23 is located directly under theopening of the barrel and is supported by the shaft 24 which is journaled in the bearing 25 held in position by means of the arm 26. This shaft carries beveled gear '27 meshing with beveled gear 28, both of which are inclosed. in the casing 29 and beveled gear 28 is driven by shaft 30 (supported in hanger 31) having the sprocket 32, driving chain 33 engaging the-sprocket 34' loosely mounted upon the shaft 8. Through the clutch mechanism 35 operated by hand 7 lever 35, (Fig. 2) the sprocket 34 may be rotated and the shafts 30 and 24 drlven to rotate the basket screen 23; Depending from the barrel and surrounding the opening is the chute or pipe-like device 36 terminating at about the top of the basket. This chute may be provided with door 37 for the purpose of inspecting the interior of the ap- V paratus during operation (Fig. 3). The

screen basket is supported by means ofthe stirrups 38 attached to the barrel, the stirs rups carrying a bearing 39 for the bottom of the shaft 24. Attached to the bottom of the stirrups and about half way up the basket screen is a hood or funnel member 40 preferably flared at its extremity as at 41 and carrying a loosely mounted hoop 42. This is forthe purpose of attaching a. sack 43 in position, the sack being placed over the w flared end 41' and the hoop being brought l rups 38. The screen is advantageously reinforced means of cross braces and encircling braces 44. 7 When the material being screened is of-a 'consistency which would cause it. to stick to the screen; the tapping device '45 maybe used This may consist of-a small piece of 1 weighted steel hinged to the stirrer 38'Withone end resting on the upper ring 44 0f; the screen. This upperring maybe roughened slightly With a result that when the screen revolves with. respect to this tapping device the screen will be shaken slightly and'thisshaking will serveto prevent the material adhering to the wall of the screen.

.Inoperatioirof the 'device just described, the material to be mixed and screened is dumped into the barrel. It may be of any size. For the sake of illustration I ma charge 100 pounds of acid-phosphate, 501 poillids of cottonseedmeal and 50pounds of potash ingredient to: be -used in -mixing the fertilizer. ;The ;paddle blades or propellers arethcn set in action through operation of thepulley 13, sproeketl'l, sp'roeket 9 and shaft 8 causing a thorough mixing'andtumbling action inside-oftheba'rrel witha tendency for the. stirrers Ito-:Jliftthe materiahand dump it toward the bottom and the center of the barrel.v While the shaft is still oper-,

.ating the clutch 35 is thrown into engagem'ent with the sprocket 34 causing rotation of shaft 30 and shaft 24 carrying the basket screen 23. Then the door 20 at the bottom of the'barrelis opened permittlng dumping of the contents ofthe barrel into-the screen,

it being guided to the inner periphery of the screen by the hood 36. I prefer'to run the screen at a slightly greater rate than the shaftin the barrel. roin30 to 60 revolutions per minute forthe operation of' the shaft and from 40" to 70 revolutions per 7 minute for the operation of'the screen have proved very satisfactory. As the barrel empties and the material is delivered to the screen any remaining lumps from the barrel are broken up by the screen and the material is screened and further thoroughly mixed, Occasionally a. smallquantity of residue accumulates in the screen and thismay be removed through the side door 37 of the are stationary and theyserve to force the material through the screen ,as it is fed thereto from the barrel. The material screened is delivered. to the sack Which is held in position incthe manner described.- WhatIclaiIn 7 1. An apparatus for mixing andscreenhood. The paddles carried; by thelarm 26 ing material such as fertilizer a-ndtheilike',

comprising a receptaole,fa: shaft therein,

stirring arms" on the shaft for mixing the material and means; for feeding material to 7 V and dellver ng mater al'from sa 1dreceptacle, v in combination Wlth' ascreemng dev ce lo;

cated under the delivering means of the said receptacle'andcomprising a rotatable screen, p

and means forrotatingthe same on a vertical tacle are in operation. 4

2. An. apparatusfor'mixing andis creening axis while the stirring device-s of said IIQCQP? V materials such as fertilizer and thelike, eomprising a main receptaclastirring devices proximity to the delivering 'means of the thereinfor'mixlng the material, and-means for feeding material to and delivering may .terialfrom said main receptacle, infcombination with a screening device. locatedfi-n j p main receptacle comprismg a rotatable device of the mainreceptacle and operating .of the screening device." i

' 3. In an apparatusfor mixing andscreen-c screen, and means foroperating the stirring l the screening device simultaneously and for operating the stirring device independe tly 1 7 ing fertilizing materialsandthejlike a main 7 receptacle,pashafttherein carrying a plu- 1'25.

rality'of stirrer armsicurved in the direction of rotation of the shaft,meansgfor rotating the. shaft, aII- openingin said receptacle," a

screening device located in, proximity to} said openin for receiving material? which has been in receptacle said: arms,

and means connected with the shaft rotating mechanism for operating the screening mechanism.

4. An apparatus for mixing and screening fertilizer and the like comprising a main receptacle having feeding means for the material to be mixed and delivering means for the mixed material, mixing means in the said receptacle mounted upon a shaft and driving mechanism for said shaft in combination 'with screening mechanism located in proxengaging or disengagin the screen operating mechanism with t e shaft operating mechanism.

5. An apparatus for mixing and screening fertilizer material, a main receptacle with mixing devices therein and having means for feeding material thereto and deliverin material therefrom, in combination wlth a screen located in proximity to the delivering means of the said receptacle, a chute leading from the delivering means of the said main receptacle to said screen, and means for rotating the screen and the mixing device of said receptacle simultaneously.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

ALFRED M. MARSHALL. 

